Egg racks



March 1, 196

Filed Aug. 12, 1957 A. STUDLER EGG RACKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORAnnie/r Sfud/er aw M ATTORNEYS A. STUDLER March 1, 1960 EGG RACKS 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 12, 1957 I INVENTOR flnm'cl Siudfisr WMZWZM ATT'ORNEY;

March 1, 1960 A. STUDLER 2, ,809

EGG RACKS Filed Aug. 12, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Anm'ck 5i udlerIM/JMWM ATTonusvs A. STUDLER March 1, 1960 EGG RACKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed Aug. 12, 1957 12 Fl G. 9

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FIG. 12

INVENTOR 5 A n C U d *ss wPfi mo 2,926,809 EGG RACKS Annick Studler, LeFoell, France Application August 12, 1951, Serial No. 677,484Claimspriority, application France June 13, 1957 '5" Claims. (Cl. 211-30I My invention relates to a new article of manufacture consisting of arack for packaging eggs, particularly eggs which are to be incubated,both while they are being transported and after they have arrived at andbeen placed in the incubator, so as to avoid the necessity for placingthe eggs in cells of molded paper and then placing these cells in theconventional racks for insertioninto the incubators.

The rack conforming to my invention is characterized by the fact that itcornprisesa number of rows of cells formed by three suitably spacedparallel partitions extending transversely of the rack and provided ontheir lower edges with semi-circular recesses having a radiuscorresponding to the size 'of a normal egg, and on their upper edgeswith a second set of semi-circular recesses, the diameters of the oddrecesses in this second set being different from these of the evenrecesses. These partitions are so positioned with respect to each otherthat each of the larger recesses of the second or upper set is locatedin alignment with two smaller recesses, one in each of the adjacentpartitions, so as to form, in conjunction with suitably shaped parallelframe members, connecting the upper edges of the partitions andextendign longitudinally of the rack, nearly wall-less cells in whichthe sized eggs are supported in a vertical position with only their endsresting on the central portion of the large recess in the centralsupporting partition and laterally supported on at most two or threepoints on the walls adjoining the cell.

By virtue of this arrangement the surface of the egg is freely exposedto the ambient air, a condition which is essential to the preservationof fertile eggs when they are being transported, and is perfectly suitedto their incubation once they have arrived at the incubator. Forshipment of the eggs, two, three, or more racks are superposed in ashipping crate provided with suitable fastening means, the racks beingalternately displaced in a lateral or longitudinal direction. In thismanner the eggs in each rack except the top one are covered by therecesses in the lower edges of the partition placed immedi atelythereabove, the eggs of the uppermost rack being held in place by thecover of the packing crate.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood one specificembodiment thereof will now be described, purely by way of example, andWithout limiting the scope of the invention to the specific detailsthereof as shown on the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of this embodiment, with eggs in its cells;

Figure 2. is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the portion of Figure1 enclosed by the broken line; the cells of this portion being shownempty;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III ofFigure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV--IV of Figure2;

2 Figure'Sis a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V of Figure2;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIVI of Figure2;

Figure Tis a fragmentary transverse cross-sectional view showing thestaggered relationship between the superposed racks; a v

Figure 8.is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view showing thestaggered relationship between the superposed racks;

Figures 9 and 10 show three racks constructed in accordance with-theinvention superposedwithin a shipping crate; and,v f I Figures 11, 12and 13 show schematically the steps required to transfer a group of eggsas a unit from a rack embodying the invention to a hatching rack.

The rack constituting the invention is preferably made of a moldedplastic material. It may be molded in one piece or comprise a pluralityof elements assembled together by any appropriate means.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, such a rack comprises ,an outerframe 1 having at two of its ends the recessed members 2 and 3 whichserve as handles.

As has already been indicated, the longitudinal walls of the frame 1 areconnected by partitions 4 provided with semi-circular recesses 5 havingradii corresponding to that of the largest cross-section of an egg,alternating with other recesses 6 having smaller radii. These partitionsare so arranged that the recesses 5 and 6 of the partitions arestaggered with respect to each other, that is to say, so that each ofthe larger recesses 5 is positioned in alignment with two of the smallerrecesses 6 in the adjacent partitions, as shown bestin Figures 2, 3 and4.

The innermost portions of the recesses 5 and 6 are connected by ribs 7which are perpendicular to the partitions and provided with curvedrecesses 8 and projections 9 which permit superposition of the racks.

Opposite each of the smaller recesses 6 is a recess 5a having the sameradius as the recesses 5.

As will readily be understood, when the eggs are placed in the cellsconstructed in this manner, with their narrower ends down (Figures 3, 7and 8), they are supported vertically by their narrow ends which bear ata on the bottoms of the larger recesses 5 and laterally by theengagement of very small areas of their sides with the elements formingthe cells.

Figures 7 and 8 show the respective positions of the partitions 4 ofthree racks which are superposed and staggered with respect to eachother, as well as the position of the eggs in each of these racks.

Figures 9 and 10 show how the three racks which are superposed andstaggered with respect to each other may be packed and immobilized fortransportation in a crate 10. This crate comprises one or more blocks 11in its lower part which serve to immobilize the lower rack. A fourthrack 1a, which is empty, covers and holds in place the eggs of theuppermost egg-carrying rack. A cover 12, also provided with one or moreblocks 13, immobilizes the empty upper rack 1a.

The eggs thus packed, without any other packaging material, aretransported to the incubator in a perfectly safe and well ventilatedmanner.

It should be noted that racks conforming to the invention may becompletely disinfected, since they may, with or without eggs, be plungedinto an appropriate disinfecting bath without any. danger ofdeterioration.

This facilitates the candling of eggs on the fifth day, since the eggsmay be individually removed from their cells.

Moreover, the lateral handles 2 and 3 make it possible to easily removethe racks from the packing crate, maintain them in a horizontal positionwhile they are being tially equal toIhaIf width, of anorrna legg thelower edges of said partitions being rovides with 'a' first .setof a yvase euat e ess s, hat n e dth; a

fmal e i l er dsee t d t ns be n P29.- vided with a second setjot arcuate reces s, alte recesses in saidsecondset being of substantiallyjthesarrie size as those in the first set andlthelreniainder being sub-astantially smaller, each, of thelarger recesses in the sec-.

ond set of recesses in the middlepartitionlying between a pair ofsmaller recesses Iocated in thedwo adjacent partitions so as to. formtherewith acell foijlthe support of an egg with. only a small portion ofits surface area in contact with, said partition recesses 2. A rack forsupporting eggs comprising atleast, one set of three parallel verticalpartitions, theupperedges of each partition being providedlwith apluralityfof; regularly spaced recesses, alternaterecesses hav ingawidth equal to that of a normal egg and a depth equal .to half thelength of ,a normal egg, and therernainingrecesses being smaller, said.partitionsibeinglstaggered with respect to each other with each of.thelargerIrecesses .in the central partitionin alignment with a smallerrecess in each of the adjacent partitions, and transverse connectingmeans on whichsaid partitions are spaced-bye distance 4 qual 2. v rp.(11 initely. ne l altthe. i th. of enam egg so that each combination ofone deep and two adjacent shallower recesses forms a cell adapted toreceive and support an egg.

3. A rack as claimed in claim 2 in which the lower edges of eachpartition are provided with recesses having a width equal to that of a:normal egg and a depth equal to half the length of anormal egg, saidrecesses lying beneath the shallower recesses in the upper edge.

4. A rackas claimed inclaimv2-inwhich said transverse connectingmeansvconsists of a plurality ofv ribs provided with verticalprojections adapte'd't'o support a p rsedes...

5. A rack assemblyprovided with aplurality of rows of cells forholdingeg gs to be incubated, said assembly comprising a plurality ofsuperposed racks, each of which is provided with a plurality ofhorizontal ribs contit s.- t; qat hreei ans s pataHeLverti aL p itins,-t'he1loWered es ofisaidpartitions-beingprovided w i rs t o nsia lype lersuat :r s e av I the width; of; -a normal egg j and; the upperedges of a said partitions. being provided witha like set of arcuate'recesses staggered with respect to'the first set, each partition beingin vertioal alignrrlent with a partition on each of the superposedracks, with the recesses in the upper edges of each partition in;alignment with the recesses in the I lower edges :of; the partitionimmediately t'hreabove and the recesses'in; the lower'edges ofeachgpartitionfin a thfihe J$$ in t e men d e f al' p ion -imrnediatelytherebelow tqformtherewith cells for. the .receptionof; eggs, thereoesses ;in;;eaeh; partition s t e a re ec t h se he-adjacen par.-

titions connected thereto by saidribs References Citedin the file of.thispatent UNITED STATES- PATENTS 1,970,436 Shepard Aug. 14, 1934

